Protective shield for shoes



y 9, 1956 H. K. LINENKOHL 2,747,304

PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR SHOES Filed Dec. 7, 1954 Fig.

Henry K. Linenkohl IN V EN TOR.

BY MM 19% United States Patent PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR SHOES Henry K.Linenkoh], Augusta, Ga.

Application December 7, 1954, Serial No. 473,657

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-72) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in shields or masks particularly for but not necessarilyrestricted to childrens white shoes and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of thischaracter comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby theupper may be expeditiously polished without soiling the welt, sole andheel.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a polishshield of the aforementioned character comprising novel securing meanswhereby the device may be correctly and snugly fitted to shoes ofvarious shapes, widths and lengths.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a protective shield of thecharacter described for shoes which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use andwhich may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view, showing a shield constructed inaccordance with the present invention applied to a shoe.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the ductile orbendable metallic securing clamps after it has been bent to shape.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises anelongated band of thin, elastic rubber or other suitable material whichis designated generally by reference character 5, which band may be ofany desired dimensions. The band 5, which is normally flat, has itsmarginal portions rolled in a manner to provide integral heads 6. Theband 5 is adapted to be stretched around the usual bottom 7 of aconventional baby shoe 8 in a manner to fully enclose and mask themarginal portions of the sole, the heel and the welt thereof. Afterbeing thus applied, the band 5 is substantially U-shaped incross-section, as illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing.

Traversing the band 5 at an intermediate point and having its endportions overlying same and vulcanized or otherwise suitably securedbeneath the lower portion thereof is an elastic instep strap 9 which isalso of thin rubber or other suitable resilient material. The elasticinstep strap 9 is folded on itself and vulcanized in a manner to providethickened or reinforced longitudinal marginal portions 10.

Embedded in the end portions of the marginal portions 10 of the elasticinstep strap 9 are pairs of longitudinally spaced, flat, normallystraight clamps 11 of suitable ductile or bendable metal. The ductileclamps 11 are adapted to be bent in a manner to provide substantiallyJ-shaped hooks for engagement over the edges of the shoe sole at theinstep.

It is thought that the manner in which the shield is used will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, theouter end portions of the normally straight, ductile outer clamps 11 areplaced on top of the sole at the instep on the outer side of the shoe.These clamps are then bent downwardly and inwardly beneath the shoe andassume substantially the shape shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. Theseclamps are then removed from the shoe and the procedure is repeated withthe clamps on the inner side of said shoe. The elastic strap 9 is thenstretched and the substantially J-shaped clamps or hooks 11 are engagedover the outer and inner edges of the shoe at the instep. The elasticband 5 is then stretched and snapped under tension around the sole andheel of the shoe. The strap 9 is also under tension for causing the band5 to follow the contour of the sole and heel and fit snugly thereon. Theupper of the shoe may now be rapidly cleaned and polished withoutsoiling the welt, sole and heel of said shoe.

It is believed that the many advantages of a protective shield or maskconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction may be resorted to which will fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A protective shoe shield of the character described comprising: anelongated elastic rubber band for enclosing the marginal portions of ashoe sole and heel, an elastic rubber shank strap traversing the band atan intermediate point and having its end portions overlying said bandand secured thereon, said strap including a central portion and marginalside portions, said side portions overlying said central portion andbeing secured thereon, and pairs of longitudinally spaced, ductileclamps enclosed in said marginal side portions of the strap on the endportions of said strap and engageable around the edges of and over thesole for anchoring said strap thereto under tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS258,228 Gordon May 23, 1882 2,114,045 Brickner Apr. 12, 1938 2,170,652Brennan Aug. 22, 1939 2,202,560 Kloza May 28, 1940 2,212,392 CorkeryAug. 20, 1940 2,466,598 La Civita Apr. 5, 1949

